Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition, which is on the increase all over the world. Nonetheless, experts reason that men stand a higher risk of developing diabetes more easily and at a young age than women, because of the way fat is distributed around men’s body, reports Sade Oguntola.
Historically, men have not been comfortable discussing issues about their health, particularly conditions like diabetes, depression or sexual dysfunction. This has resulted in shorter and less healthy lives for men compared to women.
But times have changed, and so must men. Today’s men need a strong grasp of diseases like diabetes and their related conditions, actively engage their health care providers, get informed and proactively manage their health. It is worrying that men develop type 2 diabetes at a higher rate than their female counterparts.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by too much sugar in the blood, which occurs when the body’s ability to regulate sugar levels in several different organs becomes disturbed. The condition is linked to excess fat in some of these organs such as the liver and muscles. There are several risk factors for developing the disease, including age, ethnicity, family history, and of course, being overweight. Sadly being overweight was a major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. A diet that is low in carbohydrates and fibre, or high in fat can also increase risk. In addition, an inactive lifestyle is also a factor.
Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes may include fatigue, thirst, weight loss, blurred vision and frequent urination. Some people have no symptoms. A blood test can show if you have diabetes.
The prevalence of diabetes in Nigeria is estimated at 4.7 per cent while the average in Africa is 3.8 per cent. A total of 13.1 million people in Africa have diabetes and this is projected to double by 2030.
Unfortunately, in the year 2009, over 79,000 deaths in Nigeria were attributed to diabetes, while the total African mortality (death) was 332,000.
What more with diabetes reaching an epidemic level in many countries of the world and the fact that men appear to be at higher risk for diabetes makes it imperative to take the “modern man” challenge: get out, get active, get informed! Ironically, a new study has revealed that men apparently don’t have to be as overweight as women to develop type 2 diabetes.
For the study, researchers analysed data collected from 51,920 men and 43,137 women in Scotland with diabetes and compared their Body Mass Index (BMI) rates (measured within one year of diagnosis), taking into account factors like age and smoking status. Body Mass Index is a person’s weight in kg divided by their height in metres squared and is used in health research and practice as a measure of obesity.
They found mean BMI at diabetes diagnosis in men was 31.83, but 33.69 in women and the difference was most marked at younger ages.
Why would men develop diabetes with less weight gain than women? The researchers reason that men stand a higher risk of developing diabetes more easily and at a young age than women because of the way fat is distributed around their body.
Generally, men without diabetes have more fat around the abdomen and in the liver than women, who on the other hand tend to carry a greater proportion of their body fat under the skin as well as in thighs and buttocks, which is thought to be less risky for type 2 diabetes and other health problems.
Certainly, the disparity between men and women could also be due to the fact women now a days, have gone calorie conscious irrespective of age and they follow a strict regime which encloses regular exercise and balanced diet.
What’s the connection between obesity and diabetes? According to experts, the increase in incidence of diabetes world over is a sort of evolutionary backlash. Humans today are programmed to resist famine, because over time, the only people who survived and propagated are those who are well-equipped to survive famine. Now an overabundance of food has become more dangerous than a lack of it. With food becoming more available and less expensive all over the world, obesity and diabetes have followed.
Part of the body’s protection against famine is insulin resistance. That means that our muscles are not as receptive to insulin, which is critical to moderating blood sugar. To make matters worse, more than half of people who are obese also have insulin resistance. That means their pancreas have to work even harder to produce more insulin so their muscles know it’s there.
In an overfed state, the pancreas is forced into an overproduction of insulin because there is so much food to process, and the pancreas quickly becomes exhausted and cuts down on insulin production.
When the pancreas gives up, or slows down production, blood sugar starts to rise. That’s when people get the symptoms of diabetes, including excessive thirst, excessive urination and blurred vision.
Paradoxically individuals can do a lot to guard against diabetes, stated Dr Olubiyi Adesina, a diabetes expert at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State. He stated that there was considerable research supporting simple measures that are protective against diabetes.
Dr Adesina, a member of Strategy for Improving Diabetes Care, Nigeria (SIDCAIN), declared that such simple steps as exercising, weight control and increased fruits and vegetable intake were helpful in people with blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes, do not become diabetic.
According to him, “exercise helps the body to burn fat. A high level of body fat, in particular abdominal body fat, decreases the body’s sensitivity to insulin. This decreased sensitivity to insulin is one of the major causes of type 2 diabetes. Through exercise, the body’s sensitivity to insulin is increased, thus helping the body to prevent the onset of diabetes.”
In addition, exercise helps to lower stress levels, control anxiety, and relieve depression. People with low stress levels and who have a positive outlook on life are less likely to get diabetes. The stress hormones trigger the body’s “fight or flight” response. These hormones cause the liver to release sugar into the blood for the anticipated need for energy.
Nonetheless, fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fibre and perfectly filled with water that allows better absorption of their natural nutritive properties. The natural water and fibre content of fruit actually causes a slow release of sugar into the bloodstream. This is quite unlike the instant sugar impact of no-fibre, high-chemical, heavily processed white bread that is also quite dehydrating.
Furthermore, since foods with high fibre content allow the blood sugar levels to slowly rise, this reduces stress on the pancreas and decreases a person’s risk for developing diabetes.
It is very important that people with diabetes have regular check-ups, control their weight and cholesterol, follow an exercise programme, lower high blood pressure, and not smoke. If you know that you have diabetes, you should already be under the care of a doctor. If you think that you have diabetes but are not sure, see your doctor for tests.
source: tribune
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